A young student lost her life when she was involved in a four-vehicle collision on a busy motorway on England on Friday.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man died when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a van on Saturday in Co Monaghan.

The crash in England took the life of Jemma O'Sullivan (22), originally from Monaleen Heights, Castletroy, Co Limerick.

She was due to start her final year's study for a pharmacy degree in Sunderland University in the coming days.

The collision in which Ms O'Sullivan died took place on the M18 motorway near Doncaster in South Yorkshire just before 3.45pm on Friday.

Devastated

Last night local Fine Gael councillor Mary Jackman described Ms O'Sullivan's family as "very well known and well liked in the area" and said she was "devastated for the family".

Ms O'Sullivan was a front-seat passenger in a silver Citroen Berlingo when a red Mercedes heavy goods vehicle was in collision with the back of the car, which itself then crashed into a lorry.

A 27-year-old man from Reading who was driving the Citroen car was seriously injured.

Less than 24 hours later a man died after a crash at Drumcaw, near Newbliss, Co Monaghan, just before 2pm on Saturday. The victim, named locally as Shane O'Connor, from the village of Bawn, near Corduff in Co Monaghan, was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is believed Mr O'Connor, the youngest of four children, was travelling to the Clogher market. There were no other injuries in the collision. Officers at Monaghan garda station last night appealed for anyone with information to contact them.